Ring forming and applying machine



Aug. 7, 1951 c. F. JACKSON RING FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 INVENTOR. CZ/ARZES [L44 c/(sor/ BY Aug. 7, 1951 -c. F. JACKSON 2,563,173

' RING FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. CHA R455 fi/Acmson/ Aug. 7, 1951 c. F. JACKSON RING FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 .M W mfi a w M.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RING FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE Qherles Jaokso rJ M ch, a s g o to Falls spring & Wire Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan, and Great Lakes Spring Gqrporation, Chicago, 111., a corporatio of Illinois Appli ation Se tembe 9.4. ial; o- 0.930 I closing the clip blank upon'work. Another im'' portant object of the invention is to provide a me ha ism o this characte ii -which he pa t thereof are so formed. that they maylbeinexpen- 'sively manufactured and assembled together and are s r ed an .d mhlein cons uctio ha they may be operated rapidly and for long periods of use. A further important object of the inv nti n is t pr vid a m chanism of thi h actor in which the parts aresepara el ope a ti ly connected to a s ngl owe shaft wh h enables he pa ts to be readily adjusted with espect to one another to vary th time sequen e of their esp tive operat ons n t be read ly replaced by imil a t of modifie construction without requiring the entire mechanism to be dismantled.

Important featnres of the invention relate to the, p vis on o guidin the cl io mihe jaws and for varyin th mo em n thereof t close the clip on wo hto h pro ision o se arately driving the m'oving parts from rotary earns carri by the power sh ft, to the provision fo -feeding wire into position to be cut and formed i p r blan s, and to he p vision for mechanically reciprocating the ring blank feeding member in both directions through a yielding connection which safeguards the feed member and associated parts from damagein the event the mechanism should be obstructed or clog ed in operation.

Various other objects, advantages and meritoriousfeatures of the invention will 'becomemore apparent from the following specification, appended 7 claims and accompanying drawings wherein: V

Fig. 1 is a side. elevation of ameohanism construoted in a dance w thi h s invent on p ly broken away in sectionto show .fihe interior relationship of .thejparts,

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the mechanism of Fig. 1, partly in section, taken along line ,22 thereofl. f V e F g- 3 i a ve t cal eetiona view throu th mec a m 1o "E e-,; ta aleh linie 3.3 th

2 Fig 4 is a o tom i o th clip rmmgend pplyin ortio of h m chan sm aken along line 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 :is a vertical sectional view taken along e o Fi hr u h th hous n oithe wire feeding mechanism. I V

Fi 6 is a se i na e h u h th resil ent driv ng nn t n o he sli te d ba an Fi '1 is a d a ram i ustrat ng he re ativ relation of the cams for operatin the moi fills parts of the mechanisrn.

n the ra ed embodimen o he .ih en: tion there is provided ahorizontal main support:

me em 'o plate in ab wh ch s 10m:-

naled fo r tati a power sha t p extend n longitudinally and in a fore and aft direction rel.-

ative to thejmachine as a whole. The shaft [2 is supported .in raised position above the plate 11] at its forward end by a bearing I51 and adjacent t r r end y a i l hea in t M ans o driving the shaft I2 is shown at the right of Fig. 1 in the form of a double pulley or sheave wheel l8 about which i t ain a pa o endles drive belts 20-20 leading to a source of power not shown.

pendin f om h at 1.0 a e th nert o the apparatus for feeding-the wire, forming the W nto a l i a ..an, c osin th s p ring blank upon work] These parts" are enclosed in a vertical housing consisting of a pair of side supporting members 2 222 which are closed on their front side by two superimposed removable plates 24 and-26 and similarlyclosed on their back side -by two superimposed removable plates 28 and 30. The two supporting side members are bridged by a vertically extending central web member 32 which maybe integrally connected to the side members and which serve to divide the housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber in which certain portions of the mechanism are reciprocably mounted. The lower opened endof the housing is traversed by a hori- .relation to the side members 229-22. The rear end of the arbor is-integrally connected to a sppe portingcross member 36 which, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4 is connected by bolts 38 or otherwise secured at its opposite ends to the back faces of the side members 22-22. The lower .end of the central web .32 terminates short .of the side members 22-122 and in slight spaced relation above thearbor as shown in Fig. 1 to provide l nce fo he ove n o a c ip rin an a ne he arhorthe eun r- I A continuous length of wire 40 is intermittently fed through the wire guide 42 in one of the side members 22 and transversely across the upper surfaces of the arbor. The latter, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is shaped to form a cut section of the wire into a clip ring blank thereabout, the upper portion of the arbor being wider than the lower portion and provided with rounded side edges for this purpose.

Reciprocably mounted and guided in each vertical chamber of the housing is a flat plate member of rectangular cross section. One such mem ber is indicated at 44 and the other at 46. The former is located in the rear chamber of the housing and is connected at its lower end to a pair of clip ring blank forming jaws 48-48. The

other plate member is located in the forward chamber of the housing and is connected at its lower end to a pair of clip ring blank closing jaws 50-50.

The clip forming jaws 48-48 are connected at their upper ends by links 52-52 to the lower end of the reciprocating member 44. As shown in Fig. 3, thelinks 52-52 are pivoted at their the upper ends of the jaws are spread apart the lower ends collapse toward one another. Between the plates 54-54 and the upper end of the jaws, there is provided a spring 56 which is seated .ofthejaWS contract upon the arbor to form the clip ring blank 58. Moreoven'to assist in the engagement of the jaws with the wire section overlying the arbor, the bottom of the jaws 48-48 are grooved as at 66 in Figs. 3 and 4-. to engage formed by the plates 54-54 is such that when in corresponding recesses in the jaws and acts to yieldingly urge the upper ends of the jaws apart. The jaws 48-48 are mounted in the housing for reciprocating movement and as they are thrust downwardly the lower ends thereof are shaped to cut off a section of wire overlying the arbor and bend the wire section into a clip ring blank "58 partially encircling the upper portion of the arbor. To cause the lower ends of the jaws 48-48 to contract upon one another and form a clip blank, the inside faces of. the side members 22-22 of the housing are cut away as at 60-60 to provide opposed recesses into which the upper ends of the jaws may swing in the manner shown in full line in Fig. 3. The full line position in Fig. 3 illustrates the position assumed by the jaws at the lower end of their stroke. The dotted position of the plate member 44 indicates the height to which the member and the jaws are raised at the upper end of their stroke. In the latter position the inner walls of the side members 22-22 contract the upper ends of the jaws so that the lower ends thereof are spaced at a wider distance apart than the upper portion of the arbor in order that they may be received thereover as they approach the limit of their downward stroke. As the jaws 48-48 approach the lower limit of their travel the upper ends thereof are brought opposite the recesses 60-60 and swing outwardly thereinto by I the links as the member 44 reaches the lower end of its stroke.

the wire section and hold the same in engagement with the jaws following the severance thereof. from the, balance of the wire.

Theclip closing jaws 50-50 are pivotally connected to their: reciprocating member 46 in the manner shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the plate member 46 is reduced in thickness to form a relatively thin plate extension 68 which, as shown in Fig. l, is received between the upwardly opening slots in the upper ends of the jaws ,50-50. A pivot pin 10 pivotally connects the upper end of each jaw 50 to the plate extension 68. The lowerends of the jaws 50-50 are yieldingly urged apart by a coiled spring 12 located intermediate the ends of .the jaws and spread of the jaws 50-50 throughout their extent of reciprocating movement. As shown in Fig. 1

the forward end of the arbor 34 terminates immediately adjacent to the vertical path. of movement of the jaws 50-50. In their fully raised position the lower ends of the jaws 50-50 are disposed immediately opposite to the forward end of the arbor in position to receivea ,clip .ring blank therefrom. Following reception of the clip blank, the jaws move downwardlyand are caused to contract upon one another to close the clip blank upon work brought under the housing.

As the clip closing jaws 50-50 approach the lower endof their stroke they are urged toward one another by the provision of wedging elements projecting into the path of their movement. This projecting member 16 and to be wedged by the latter to move the jaw inwardly as it reaches the lower end of its stroke. Both members 16-16 and their respective inclined faces 18 are disposed on the same level and function, to contract both of the jaws toward oneanother at the same time and as they approach the lower end .of their stroke to thereby close the clip between the jaws on work brought under the mechanism.

Each inwardly projecting jaw engaging member 16-16 is resiliently mounted in the housing and is capable of retracting outwardly to soften the impact of the jaws 50-50 thereon. As shown in Fig. 2, a cap member 84 is associated with each member 16 and is securedto the outer face of the sidemember 22 in which the former is located. Seated in the capjis a coiled spring 82, the inner end of which bears against the outer end of the jaw engaging member 16 and yieldingly urges the same inwardly. The outwardly yieldable movement of the member 16-16 thus provided allows the jaws to accommodate themselves to the object about which they are applying the clip ring' blank. If the latter should be relatively large and unyielding it will prevent complete closing of the ring thereon. In such an event, the members 16-46 willyield slightly out wardly with respect to the jaws as the latter approach their clip applying position and permit the completion of the stroke of the jaws and the operating member 46 regardless of whether or not the .ring is completely closed on the object. Slidably mounted on the arbor 34 is a clip ring blank feeding member in the form of a flat bar 86 This bar is mounted for reciprocating movement on the arbor from the full line position shown in Fig. 1 which is rearward of the plane of the clip forming jaws 48--48 to the forward posis tion extremity of the arbor where it feeds the clip blank into the jaws 50-40. The bar .86 :is slidably guided for reciprocating movement. For this purpose the rear end of the bar is connected to a cross member 88 which is .slidably mounted on a pair of fixed guiding rods -90--.90. The cross member is bored for slidably fitting the :rods SDFQO and it is evident that slidable :movement thereof on the rods will reciprocate the feeding bar backwardly and forwardlyon the arbor. 4

The clip blank feeding bar .85 is reciprocated in opposite directions by drive means directly connected to the shaft I2. This includes a bell crank lever '92 pivoted at 94 about a horizontal axis to afixed bracket member '96 above the arbor. The lower end of the crank lever 92 is bifurcated and is received over a short cross pin 98 mounted in the member 88 and exposed for reception of the forked end of the lever. The opposite end of the crank lever 92 is pivotally connected to a link I which in turn is pivotally connected to the lower end of a reciprocating drive member I02. It is evident that upon reciprocating movement of the drive member I02 the link I00 and the crank arm 92 will function to drive the feeding bar 86 in a fore and aft direction on the arbor The wire 40 is supplied from a wire roll or other suitable source and advanced in inter- .mittentmovement through the guide .42 andover the arbor .34. The mechanism accomplishing this operation comprises .a .pair of peripherally grooved rollers I04 and 1.0.6 disposed in superimposed relationship .on opposite sides of the wire, as best shown in Fig. .5. The upper roller I04 is journaled for rotation on a shaft in the form of a bolt member I08 which serves to clamp two plate members which together form a housing for a part of the intermittent drive vmechanism. These members comprise .a relatively thick member I I0 and a flat relatively thin hack member I I2 secured together by the bolt 1 08 previously mentioned and additional bolts 1 I4 to the thicker member. The larger member H0 is secured by'long bolts II5 to the outerface of the side member 22 through which the wire is fed. It is recessed on the side thereof against which the plate I I2 abuts and received therein is agear wheel H8. The latter is pinned to a hub member I I8 which is press fitted to shaft I120 for joint rotation therewith. The latter projects rearwardly from the back plate I I2 and enters a circular housing I22 in which a one-way drive mechanism is located. The housing is reduced adjacent to its outer extremity to receive an arm I24 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is fixed-thereto. The housing I22 is further reduced at its outer extremity and journaled for rotation in a forward 6, when the arm: lMis rocked-in acl ckwisedirecg tion as Fig. .3 it will drive: the upper roller I04 in the direction to feed th iw 40 across the arbor. Its return, or counter-clockwise movement is not -im-parted to the roller member. The roller 10B is iournaled for rotation about a shaft in the form of a bolt member I28 and isgea-red. to the roller I04 for rotation therewith but in the opposite direction; .As shown in Fig. -5, .fixed to the roller I04 is a ear wheel I30 and similarly fixed to the :roller I06is gear wheel 132- The two gear wheels 130 and I-32 are disposed in vertical alignment and mesh with one another so that when the roller I 04 is rotated the .roller I106 is likewise rotated but in the-opposite direction to feed the compression with which the roller eng ges the wire. As shownin Figs. .3 and 4, the rollerJllG and-its associated gear 132 are mounted between the .forkedends of a member I34 which-is pivoted to a depending lug I36 on the plate IIO about a. horizontal axis formed *by the pin I 38. The member I34 is ofa-right angular formation as shown ,Fig. .3 and the end section I40 thereof opposite to the forked end projects upwardly vertically alongside of the plate member 110. Threaded through the. upwardly projecting section 440 ,is ascrrew rmember I42 carryingaknurled control knob I 44 which when rotated in the direction to thread the screw member inwardly will cause the latter to abut .theplate member 11;!) and rock the right angular, member I34 about the pivot point, 4.38 and increase the compression exerted by roller I-0B'on the wire member.

The various mov g parts of the mechanism are driven from the power shaft I2 by separate cams jointly rotatable therewith. .As shown .in Figl, the re ipr cating plate member 44 of :the clip forming jaws is provided at its. upper end with rearwardlv project n oller J4 which rides in arlBQGSSBd cam trackl48 on the forwardiace of a circular .member I50. similarlythe reciprocatin plate member 46 of the clip closing laws is securedhy bolts -I-.6 8 to the fron sid of acetic member I110 which is pinned to the drive shaft I2.

Associated with the cam member I10 an oscillatin arm I12 which. asshown .inFfig. .3, :is pivoted-on one side of theshaftIZ to a fixedesllpport abouta horizontal axisITM. The arm -ex tends under the cam member I10 and carries a roller 11.6 which bears thereagainst and as the :former rotates causes the roller and the arm I112 to oscillate in the vertical pathabout a pivot point 114.. The opposite end lofthe arm I12 is di posed above the wire advancing rollersand pivotally connected thereto is a link IiI 8,-which extends downwardly ;-for pivotal connection to the arm I24 of the one-way drive mechanismfor the wire advancing rollers. .The downward move. ment of the arm I12 is yieldingly resisted by :a plunger -iI located immediately therebelow and yieldingly :urged :upwardly -by a I coiledvspring 8.2-

7. The bottom end of the plunger'is "slidably mounted in'a recess in the plate I and the lower end of the spring I02 is seated therein in the manner shown in Fig. 3 for urging the plunger upwardly into engagement with the arm I12 for holding the roller I16 in constant contact with the cam member I10.

The feed bar 86 for advancing the clip ring blanks along the arbor 34'is mechanically recipr'ocated directly from the drive shaft I2. In the event of blockage of the feed bar, which may be caused by an imperfectly formed clipblank or the presence of a foreign body, it is desired to providenovel means for slowing or stopping the advance of the feed bar without interrupting the operation of the remaining parts of the mechanism. For this purpose it is preferred to provide a resilient force transmitting member in the driv= ing connection between the drive shaft and the fe'dbar; As shown in Figs. 1 and 6 sucha "resilient driving connection may be formedby' drviding the link I00 into two telescoping sections,

includingtheilink member I00 previously referred to and a sleeve I which slidably fits the upper end of the link member. The sleeve is closed at its upper end as shown in Fig. 6 and is provided with an apertured ear I80 which is received between the lower forked extremity of the link member I02 and is pivotally connected thereto, by a cross pinIBB. Housed within the sleeve is a strong coiled compression spring I00 seated at its upper extremity against the closed end' wall of. the sleeve'and at its lower extremity against the end of the link member I00. To prevent relaprovided with a longitudinal slot I92 through tive turning movement of the link member I00 and'the sleeveand to limit'the axial movement of one with respect to the other, the sleeve is provided with a longitudinal slot I92 through which projects a removable pin I94 carried by the link member;

In normal operation, the spring I90 is sufliciently strong to transmit the driving force of the link I02 to the bell crank lever 92 and the feed bar 86 without appreciable compression. However, in the event of blockage, either partial or complete, of the feed bar, the spring will yield allowing the'feed'bar to slow its advance or stop without interrupting the operation of the other moving parts of the apparatus. If such should occur the moving parts including the link I02 will repeat their operating strokes during which times the spring will compress instead of delivering the operating strokes to further advance the feed bar. In normal operation, the pin I94 is continuously in engagement with the lower end of the slot I92 and upon upwardly movement of the link I02 and the sleeve I84 the latter picks up the link member I00 rocking the bell crank lever in'the direction to retract the feedbar;

Fig.' 7 diagramatically illustrates the operating cycles of the various cams and the relative positions of the moving parts with respect to one another. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the position of the parts when the clip forming'jaws 48 48 have completed the bendingfof a clip ring blank on the arbor. At this point in the operating cyclethe clip closing jaws 50-50 are in an intermediate position of their stroke length and are moving upwardly. With reference to the cyclical diagram of Fig. '7 this position is represented by the letter A. As the'parts continue their cycle ofoperation from this position; the clip closing jaws 50--50 continue to rise and approach the upper limit ofxtheir stroke when the lower ends'of the'jaws will be disposed opposite to the outer end of the arbor 34 in position to-receive a clip ring blank therefrom. As the jaws 50- 50 approach the upper limit of their stroke, the clip forming jaws or dies 40-48 are moved upwardly and clear the clip formed thereby on the arbor. Immediately thereafter the feed bar 86 is urged forwardly on the arbor and commences to push the clip blank along the arbor toward the outer end thereof. The timing is such that as the clip closing jaws 50-50 reach the upper limit of their stroke, the feed bar pushes the clip blank into the jaws. During the downward movement of the jaws 5050 with a clip ring therein, a section of wire 40 is fed transversely over the arbor preparatory to being cut and shaped by the clip forming jaws 4040. After the jaws 5050 have clinched the ring to workthey commenceto rise and during their rise the clip forming die members 48'48 move downwardly, cut oil? the section of wire overlying the arbor, and bend the wire section into at a time is formed and immediately thereafter a U-shaped clip blank on the arbor. One clip is advanced by the feed bar into the clip closing Jaws 50-50;

' What I claim is: i

1. A clip ring forming and applying mechanism comprising; incombination, a horizontally extending arbor shaped to'form" a clipring blank thereabout, means for feeding the end section of a wire transversely over the arbor, a pair of clip blank forming jaws pivotally swingable toward and away from one another, means for reciproeat ng said pair of clip forming jaws ina vertical path and causing the same to straddle the arbor at the lower end of its stroke and swing inwardly theretoward to form a clip ring blank on the arbor, one of said clip forming jaws being so shaped that in its downward movement it will cut off an end section of wire overlying the arbor, a pair of clip blank closing jaws pivotally swingable toward and away from .one another, means for reciprocating said pair of clip closing jaws in a vertical path offset to the vertical path of movement of the clip forming jaws and from a position immediately opposite one end of the arbor to a clip applying position spaced therebelow, a clip blank feed member slidable longitudinally on the arbor, means for reciprocating said feed member a distance along the arbor between said paths of movement and for causing the feed member to advance a clip ring blank along the arbor to said end thereof and to retract samerearwardly of the position on the arborv where said pair of clip forming jaws cut oil and form a clip blankjthereon, and means for driving said reciprocating means for said pairs of clip forming ,and clip closing jaws and for driving said feedv member in timed relation such that immediately following the formation of a clip blank on the arbor by the clip forming jaws it is advanced-by the feed member to said end of the arbor and into the clip closing jaws at the time the latter reach the upper end of their stroke.

2. A clip ring forming and applying mechanism comprising, in combination, a horizontally extending rotating power shaft, a horizontally extending arbor disposed below said shaft in spaced parallel relation thereto and shaped to form a clip ring blank thereabout, means for feeding successive sections of wire transversely across the arbor, a pair of clip blank formin jaws. & P of clip closing jaws. a pivotal mountin f r h of said pairs of jaws providing swinging movement of the jaws toward and away from one another, means operatively connecting the pivotal mounting for the clip blank forming jaws to said shaft for reciprocating the jaws in a vertical path between the shaft and the arbor, means operatively connecting the pivotal mounting for the clip closing jaws to said shaft for reciprocating the jaws in a vertical path offset to the vertical path of movement of the pair of clip blank forming jaws and between one end of the arbor and a clip applying position therebelow, means for guiding said pairs of jaws in their reciprocating movement and for causing each pair of jaws at the lower end of its stroke to swing toward one another, said last means causing the clip blank forming jaws to straddle the arbor at the lower end of their stroke and swing inwardly theretoward to form a clip ring blank on the arbor and further causing the clip closing jaws to swing toward one another at the lower end of their stroke to contract a clip ring blank received therebetween on work, a clip blank feed bar slidable longitudinally on the upper surface of the arbor between the vertical paths of movement of the two pairs of jaws, and means operatively connecting the feed bar to said shaft and operable to reciprocate the same the distance between said paths of movement, said operating connecting means for said pairs of jaws and for said feed bar causing reciprocation thereof during one complete revolution of the shaft and timing the clip blank feeding movement of the bar during the upward strokes of both pairs of jaws.

3. In a clip formingand applying mechanism, a pair of jaw members swingably mounted for movement toward and away from each other, means mounting said jaw members for joint reciprocating movement, means for feeding a clip ring blank into the jaws at one end of their stroke, and means for closing the clip ring blank received in the jaws on work at the other end of their stroke, said last means including a pair of wedging elements, one for each jaw member, projecting into the path of travel of the jaw members and cooperating with inclined faces thereon for wedging the jaw members together, and means yieldingly urging each of said wedging elements in the direction toward said jaw members.

4. In a clip forming and applying mechanism, a pair of jaw members disposed in side by side relationship and correspondingly shaped at one of their ends for receiving a clip ring blank and for closing the same on work, means providing a guide-way in which said pair of jaw members are reciprocatingly mounted, means for reciprocating said jaw members in said guide-way and for projecting the jaw members therefrom when applying a clip ring blank to work, a wedging element for each jaw member disposed in each opposite side wall of the guide-way and projecting into the path of travel of the jaw member, said wedging elements each provided with a face inclined to the path of travel of the jaw member with which it is associated and adapted to engage an inclined face on the jaw' member to urge the same inwardly toward the other jaw member, resilient means yieldingly urging each of said wedging elements inwardly toward the path of travel of the jaw members, and means for adjusting the force of said resilient means on'the wedging elements.

5. In a clip ring forming and applying mechanism, a horizontally extending arbor shaped to form a clip ring blank thereabout, means for feeding successive sections of wire transversely across the arbor, a pair of clip ring blank forming jaws, a pair of clip ring closing jaws, a separate pivotal mounting for each of said pairs of jaws providing swinging movement of each pair of jaws toward and away from one another, means for bodily reciprocating the pivotal mounting for the clip ring blank forming jaws to cause the jaws to move in a vertical path above the arbor and spaced from one end thereof, means for severing wire sections extending across the arbor in timed relation to the reciprocation of the clip blank forming jaws and for causing the latter to bend the severed wire sections on the arbor into clip ring blanks, means for bodily reciprocating the pivotal mounting for the clip ring closing jaws to cause the jaws to move in a vertical path offset to the vertical path of movement of the clip ring blank forming jaws and between said endof the arbor and a clip applying position therebelow, a clip ring blank feed member slidable longitudinally on the arbor, means for reciprocating said feed member the distance along the arbor separating the paths of movement of said pairs of jaws and for causing the feed member to move said end of the arbor to advance a clip ring blank along the arbor and into said clip ring closing jaws and for causing the feed member to return to the path of movement of the clip blank forming jaws, power means for driving each of said reciprocating means and correlating the operation thereof such that the feed member is reciprocated said distance once for every time said pairs of jaws are reciprocated, and a resilient force transmitting member in said feed member reciprocating means operable to permit a shortened feeding stroke of the feed member without interrupting the operation of the remaining parts of the mechanism.

CHARLES F. JACKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 620,444 Grasberger Feb. 28, 1899 1,152,855 Smith Sept. 7, 1915 1,291,072 Miller Jan-1 1919 2,145,461 Smith Jan. 31, 1939 2,325,322 Jackson July 27, 1943 

